In this Mariposa Talks interview, Rich DelGrosso, bluesman and mandolin player, reveals how important the mandolin was in the early development of the blues, and explains how a visit the Mariposa Folk Festival many years ago changed his life.
Here’s another video of Rich DelGrosso your enjoyment:
Rich DelGrosso demonstrating blues mandolin basics in the key of G:
Orillia, Ontario, Canada – The lineup of the storied Mariposa Folk Festival is shaping-up to be the most impressive one in many years. With an all-Canadian roster of headliners plus an homage to a seminal Canadian roots music group, this year Mariposa will celebrate its important contributions to Canada’s folk-roots music heritage. It’s a fitting tribute in recognition of Canada 150, Ontario 150, and the sesquicentennial year of the festival’s host community of Orillia, Ontario.
Among the iconic Canadian artists that will top the bill at Mariposa Folk Festival are:
Closing the festival on the Sunday Evening Main Stage is a very special presentation, ‘The Last Waltz – a Musical Celebration of The Band – Live’. This homage to The Band, a quintet of four Canadians and one American that created the musical foundation of the Americana music movement, will celebrate one of the most famous concerts in popular music history. Under the direction of Juno award winning producer and musical director, Lance Anderson, it will feature a 9-piece all-star band plus special guests.
According to Artistic Director, Mike Hill, “This is just a taste of the rich artistic lineup coming together for Mariposa Folk Festival 2017. We look forward to making dozens more exciting announcements over the coming days and weeks”.
Mariposa Folk Festival takes place July 7th, 8th and 9th, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on the shores of scenic Lake Couchiching.
The 3-day Mariposa Folk Festival features the best folk-roots music on the North American scene as well as story, dance and craft on twelve stages. All categories of tickets are now on sale. Kids 12 & under are admitted free. Tent and RV camping is available on the festival site.
January 19th, 2017 – Mariposa Folk Festival organizers announced today that one of Canada’s most celebrated music groups, Barenaked Ladies, will perform at this summer’s festival.
Mariposa Folk Festival takes place July 7th, 8th and 9th, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on the shores of scenic Lake Couchiching.
Barenaked Ladies has earned their status as Canadian icons by serving up rock with a shot of wry. The band is famous for its offbeat humour, infectious enthusiasm on stage and its own unique brand of music, which sits somewhere at the intersection of indie-rock, alt-pop and what you might call improvisational rap.
According to Artistic Director, Mike Hill, “Barenaked Ladies is known world-wide as the quintessentially Canadian band. We’re bringing them back to Mariposa after a long hiatus to help us celebrate Canada 150, Ontario 150, and Orillia 150, as well as our rich musical heritage”.
The 3-day Mariposa Folk Festival features the best folk-roots music on the North American scene as well as story, dance and craft on twelve stages. All categories of ticket are now. Kids 12 & under are admitted free. Tent and RV camping is available on site.
More artistic announcements will be made in the coming weeks and months.
Orillia, Ontario, Canada – Festival goers to this year’s Mariposa Folk Festival are in for a very special homage to the seminal group, The Band. Summoning the atmosphere of the group’s famous farewell concert, The Last Waltz, 
a 9-piece all-star band along with special guests called ‘The Last Waltz – a Musical Celebration of The Band – Live’, is being assembled by Juno award winning producer and musical director, Lance Anderson.
It will be a celebration of one of the most famous music happenings in popular music history. This special presentation is part of Mariposa’s celebration of Canada’s rich musical heritage for Canada 150.
According to Artistic Director, Mike Hill, “Mariposa is very proud to shine a spotlight on our country’s rich folk-roots music heritage. One of the most influential groups ever to come out of Canada was The Band. They created the musical foundation of the Americana movement, and roots music was forever changed.” He added, “Our Mariposa audience is in for a very special performance with The Last Waltz – a Musical Celebration of The Band – Live”.
Mariposa Folk Festival takes place July 7th, 8th and 9th, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on the shores of scenic Lake Couchiching. The 3-day event features the best folk-roots music on the North American scene as well as story, dance and craft on twelve stages. All categories of ticket are now on sale at the best available price. Kids 12 & under are admitted free. Tent and RV camping is available on site.
Mariposa organizers have indicated that an announcement of a big-name artist will be made in the coming days.
For Immediate Release
December 8th, 2016
BRUCE COCKBURN JOINS THE MARIPOSA LINEUP
Orillia, Ontario, Canada – Mariposa Folk Festival is proud to announce that one of Canada’s finest artists, Bruce Cockburn, is returning to Mariposa after a long absence. The renowned singer-songwriter and revered guitarist was a regular performer at Mariposa Folk Festival during its Toronto Island years, making six appearances during that period following his 1968 Mariposa debut.
Bruce Cockburn’s artistry is deeply influenced by politics, spirituality, and musical diversity. His music transcends folk, jazz, rock, and worldbeat, and his memorable songs are inspired by personal observations and experiences in places like Guatemala, Mali, Mozambique, and Nepal. Cockburn has earned many awards during his career, from Officer of the Order of Canada, honourary degrees, and humanitarian awards, to twelve Junos.
According to Artistic Director, Mike Hill, “Bruce Cockburn is an artistic director’s dream. He is a highly respected, much loved, very talented artist whose work is consistently original, relevant and of the highest integrity. He’s also a fantastic performer. It just doesn’t get any better than that.”
Mariposa Folk Festival takes place July 7th, 8th and 9th, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on the shores of scenic Lake Couchiching. The 3-day festival features the best folk-roots music on the North American scene on twelve stages, as well as story, dance and craft. All categories of tickets are now on sale at the best available price. Kids 12 & under are admitted free. Tent and RV camping is available at the festival site.
Mariposa organizers previously announced that Matt Andersen is on the artistic roster for this year’s festival. Another big name artist will be announced in the coming days.
For Immediate Release
December 6th, 2016
Orillia, Ontario, Canada – Organizers of the storied Mariposa Folk Festival began unveiling their 2017 lineup today, announcing that Matt Andersen, a powerhouse performer with a giant soul-filled voice and commanding stage presence, will return following a seven-year absence.
Mariposa Folk Festival takes place July 7th, 8th and 9th, in beautiful Tudhope Park in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on the shores of scenic Lake Couchiching.
Matt Andersen has long-surpassed 10 million views on YouTube, earned two prestigious European Blues Awards for Best Solo/Acoustic Artist both in 2013 and in 2016, was chosen Best Solo Performer at the 2010 International Blues Challenge, has a handful of Maple Blues Awards, and took home the 2015 Juno award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo.
According to Artistic Director, Mike Hill, “A very talented Matt Andersen blew the Mariposa audience away during two early career appearances at the festival. In the years that have passed since then, the entire world has discovered this impressive artist.”
The 3-day Mariposa Folk Festival features the best folk-roots music on the North American scene as well as story, dance and craft on twelve stages. All categories of ticket are now on sale at the best available price. Kids 12 & under are admitted free. Tent and RV camping is available on site.
Mariposa organizers have indicated that announcements of some big-name artists will be made in the coming days.
In this interview for the Mariposa Talks series, ukulele maestro James Hill tells us why he chose the ukulele over the violin (it was more fun), talks about some exciting new directions he’s taken in his latest album, and addresses the question of whether the name of his instrument should be pronounced “yuke-a-laylee” or “ook-oo-laylee.”
Here’s some live performance videos of James Hill for your enjoyment:
Voodoo Child (Hendrix Ukulele Cover)
Billie Jean (Michael Jackson Cover)
Concert producer, conference organizer, DJ and emcee Sonny Ochs tells Mariposa Talks how she has kept alive the musical legacy of her brother, protest singer and activist Phil Ochs. In today’s charged political climate, she says, his work is gaining a new political currency with the young.
Mariposa Folk Festival is known for presenting the best folk/roots artists on the music scene. This year, we welcome three diverse headliners – music and pop-culture icon Rita Coolidge, Canada’s very own The Good Family, and contemporary Americana folk duo The Milk Carton Kids. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s the full lineup.
But, there’s a Lot More than Great Music at Mariposa! We also have:
The vibe alone is worth the price of admission!
In this interview in the Mariposa Talks series, Hamilton-based county singer Lori Yates talks about working with some of the greats of Nashville, about her struggles to overcome addiction and about a foray into stand-up comedy. She also offers telling insights into how the music business has changed dramatically during her 30-year career.
Here’s some live performance videos of Lori Yates for your enjoyment:
In this interview, music legend Rita Coolidge talks about her new book, how she was cheated out of a songwriting credit on Layla, whether she might perform again with ex-husband Kris Kristofferson and how she misses singing with her late sister in the Native American group Walela. It’s all in this Mariposa Talks exclusive.
Here’s some live performance videos of Rita Coolidge for your enjoyment:
We’re All Alone
Higher and Higher
All Time High
In this interview, Alison Porter of Dirty Dishes dishes the dirt on how the band got its name, how they work out their wonderful harmonies and why they love country and bluegrass music. She also reveals a surprising secret about some musical moonlighting by one member of this highly talented trio.
Here’s some live performance videos of Dirty Dishes for your enjoyment:
David Amram, multi-instrumentalist, composer and conductor, has worked with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Leonard Bernstein and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. In this interview he talks with refreshing wit and insight about folk music as the root of his musical inspiration.
Here’s some live performance videos of David Amram for your enjoyment:
Waltz from “After The Fall”
Greenwich Village 1957 to today
David Amram: The First 80 Years
“Blue Monk” by the David Amram Quintet
Pull My Daisy
The idea of forming The Good Family band took root when a pair of musician brothers invited their parents to join them on a musical romp throughout Scotland, England and Wales. At some venues they were described as Canada’s answer to the legendary Carter Family. Since then, the band has blossomed to include even more of this talented lineage.
No strangers to the stage and studio, some members of The Good family hail from two of Canada’s premier acts. Bruce and Larry Good are two-thirds of Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees and multiple Juno Award recipients The Good Brothers. Travis and Dallas Good are members of Juno and Indie award winning band The Sadies.
Rounding out the family is Margaret Good, wife of Bruce and mother of Travis and Dallas. Margaret is also a veteran performer who appears on several recordings by both The Sadies and The Good Brothers. She also sang on Ronnie Prophets’ “Grand Old Country” which aired on CTV for two seasons, backing such artists as Charlie Pride, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Mel Tillis and Dolly Parton to name just a few.
The Good Family talent pool does not end there, with niece and cousin D’Arcy Good adding yet another dimension with her amazing fiddle and outstanding vocals.
And just when you think it can’t get any better, Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky of The Sadies provide a killer rhythm section.
The Good Family’s debut album consists of country ballads, bluegrass, and folk rock all written and performed by the family. Two of the songs are co-writes with Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo. A guest musician who makes an appearance on the album is their close friend, the late great guitarist Terry Clements of Gordon Lightfoot fame, who recorded his part way back in 1978. How this was achieved is an interesting story in itself. The album was mixed by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies.
It is said that sibling and family harmonies are unique, and The Good Family drives that point home. They play an eclectic mix of music featuring acoustic and electric guitars along with banjo, autoharp, dobro, fiddle, mandolin and rhythms that will keep you grooving and shouting for more.
“Bloodgrass” band Murder Murder is dedicated to the tradition of murder ballads — songs of slaughter and bloodshed that they set to a toe-tapping beat. For while their subject matter may be dark, it doesn’t mean their tunes aren’t danceable. In this conversation with Mariposa volunteer Philip Jackman while crammed into their van en route to a gig in Ottawa , the band sheds light on their musical interests and persona.
Here’s some live performance videos of Murder Murder for your enjoyment:
If the Sky Should Fall
Jon & Mary
Sweet Revenge
Cadillac
Teilhard Frost and Sam Allison (known by their noms de minstrel as Sheesham Crow and Lotus Wight) along with Son Sanderson make up the band Sheesham & Lotus and ‘Son. The trio draws inspiration from ragtime, classic fiddle tunes and music from the early days of recording. In this conversation with Mariposa volunteer Philip Jackman, Teilhard talks about the band’s roots and what it’s like to record a 78 rpm record at a public swimming pool in northeast England.
Click here to watch a video of Sheesham & Lotus and ‘Son recording their song 1929, direct to a 78 rpm lacquer disk on a 1938 recording lathe.
Here’s some more live performance videos of Sheesham & Lotus and ‘Son for your enjoyment:
Head Over Heels
Roscoe
Drunken Nights
Shake That
Jackson Stomp!
